Thailand martial law: Interim PM proposes election on Aug 3

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan on Tuesday called for fresh polls to be held on August 3 in a bid to end the nation’s political turmoil, after the military imposed martial law across the kingdom.

Mr Niwattumrong told reporters that the government had written to the Thai Election Commission proposing the new date for polls and hoped to “submit a royal decree” next week for the King to endorse a new national vote.

The premier backed the decision to introduce martial law, saying it could help the proposed election take place, and added that the government would “engage in reforms before the election” – without giving further details.

Anti-government protesters bidding to topple Mr Niwattumrong’s government have said there cannot be a new election without loosely-defined reforms targeting the dominance of billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

A February 2 poll was annulled by the courts after protesters widely disrupted the voting.

The government and army will hold talks “likely to be this week", added Mr Niwattumrong, who replaced Thaksin’s younger sister Yingluck as premier after she was ousted by a controversial court ruling on May 7.

Protesters say the hobbling government lacks legitimacy and are pressing for the upper house of Thailand’s parliament, the Senate, to trigger a legal mechanism to wipe out the government and appoint a new premier.

A group of 25 senators on Tuesday sent a petition to the Consitutional Court to rule on the status of the remaining cabinet members.